Electromagnetic relay operable upon alternate deenergization cycles



Nov. 11, 1952 R. F. STEHLIK ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY OPERABLE UPON ALTERNATE DEENERGIZATION CYCLES Filed June 2, 1948 2 SI-IEETS SI IEET l qoE INVENTOR. RUDOLPH F. STEHLIK 4 ATTOR NEY Nov. 11, 1952 R. F. STEHLIK 2,617,906

ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY OPERABLE UPON ALTERNATE DEENERGIZATION CYCLES Flled June 2, 1948 2 SHEETSSl-!EET 2 INVENTOR. RUDOLPH F. STEHLIK %Z a ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 11, 1952 ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY OPERABLE UPON ALTER-NATE DEENERGIZATION CYCLES Rudolph Frank Stehlik, Antwerp, Belgium, as-

signor to Automatic Electric Laboratories, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application June 2, 1948,,Serial No. 30,555

7 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to multi-contact switching devices, and more particularly to improvements in relay structures by means of which different contact positions are accomplished through successive operations of the relay. Such a relay structure finds many uses in circuit combinations wherein intermediate sequential operations are required in order to realize a desired over-all result.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and novel relay structure which embodies a simple, compact and inexpensive construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved relay arrangement wherein a contact does not operate during a first energization of the relay: wherein the contact operates responsive to a following de-energization of the relay: wherein the operated contact remains undisturbed during a re-energization of the relay; and wherein the operated contact is restored to its normal position responsive to a second deenergization of the relay.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and novel relay structure whereby a contact is operated each time the relay is energized and is restored to its normal position each time the relay is tie-energized; whereby a second contact remains in its normal position during a first energization of the relay and is operated responsive to a following de-energization of the relay; and whereby the operated second contact is restored to its normal position responsive to a de-energization of the relay following a re-energization of the relay.

A feature of the invention resides in the interposing of a new and novel mechanism between the armature of the relay and a contact switch unit for controlling the operation of the contact switchunit in response to successive operations of the armature.

Another feature of the invention concerns the new and novel manner in which the mechanism interposed between the armature of the relay and a contact switch unit functions to cause the operation of the contact switch unit only when a first restoration of the armature is accomplished, and to cause the restoration of the operated contact switch unit only when a second restoration of the armature is accomplished.

A further feature of the invention relates to a novel adjusting arrangement for regulating the operation of the mechanism interposed between the armature of the relay and a contact switch unit.

Other objects and features will become apparent from the following description together with the accompanying drawings which show a. proposed embodiment by way of example.

The invention is disclosed in two sheets of drawings comprising Figs. 1 to 13, inclusive.

Fig. 1 is a top, or plan, view of the relay showing particularly the arrangement of the two operating arms of the armature and the associated contact springs comprising right and left switch units.

Fig. 2 is a right-hand side view, in elevation, of the relay showing another view of the right-hand switch unit of Fig. 1 and the parts of a lever mechanism for operating this switch unit which are not obscured by the cover plate located on the right-hand side of the relay.

Fig. 3 is a left-hand side view, in elevation, of the relay showing another view of the left-hand switch unit of Fig. 1 and the armature arm for operating same.

Fig. 4 is an end view, in elevation, of the relay showing further details of the armature and the two switch units.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary right-hand side view of the relay, similar to the lower part of Fig. 2 with the cover plate removed. Fig. 5 shows details of the bracket attached to the relay heel piece for mounting the lever mechanism required for operating the switch unit of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a left-hand side view, in elevation, of the mounting bracket shown in Fig. 5, illustrating how the mounting bracket is attached to the relay heel piece.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary end view of the mounting bracket taken along the line .'7 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a cross-section taken along the line 38 in Fig. 5, showing further details of the mounting bracket.

Fig. 9 is a right-hand side view of the relay showing the armature, the right-hand switch unit of Fig. 1 and the lever mechanism controlled by the armature for operating the right-hand switch unit, all in the normal, or non-operated, positions.

Fig. 10 is a right-hand side View of the relay showing the relationship of the armature, the lever mechanism and the right-hand switch unit after the first energization of the relay. It should be observed that the armature has moved to the operated position and that the switch unit still remains in the normal, or non-operated, posi- Fig. 11 is a right-hand side View of the relay showing how the lever mechanism automatically operates the right-hand switch unit as the armature restores to the normal position following the first de-energization of the relay. The righthand switch unit, however, remains in the operated position and is not disturbed by the restoration of the armature.

Fig. 12 is a right-hand side view of the relay showing the relationship of the armature, the lever mechanism and the right-hand switch unit after the second energization of this relay. The armature has again moved to the operated position but the right-hand switch unit-remains in the operated position of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 shows a simple circuit arrangement for controlling the energization and-de-energization of the relay winding.

Referring now more particularly to'Figs; 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings, the electromagnetic relay therein shown comprises essentially a magnetic core ll] carrying a winding H, a substantially L-shaped magnetic heel piece 12 secured to core II! by meansof screw lll, and a movable magnetic armature l3 pivotly mounted on the outer end of heel piece l2 and co-operating with one endof core I B. More particularly, armature I3 is pivotly secured to heel piece l2 by means of pivot pin l4, yoke l5, washer I6 and screw I7. Also, a downwardly bent tab 18 is formed integrally with washer is and extends through a recess (not shown) in yoke l into an aligned opening (not shown) in heel piece I2 in a well-known manner to prevent relative motion between yoke 55 and heel'piece 12. Preferably, pivot pin l6, yoke and screw I! are formed of non-magnetic material in order to prevent these elements from interfering with the magnetic flux path between armature l3 and heel piece l2. Any of the well-known residual means can be utilized for preventing armature 13 from sticking to core [0.

Further, armature 13 carries a pair of spaced apart and inwardly directed arms [9 and disposed on the oppositesides of heel piece 12 and provided with aligned holes therein which receive the opposite outer ends of pivot pin M, the opposite outer ends of pivot pin i s being flanged over inorder to rigidly secure pivot pin I 4 to arms Iii and 20 and, consequently, to armature l3. Also, arm I9 is provided with an inturned operating projection 2i (Fig. 1) which overlies the top surface of heel piece l2 and co-operates with contactswitch unit 22 carried by heel piece 12. Projection 2| can be fitted with a residual (not shown) or any well-known residual means can be used for preventing projection 2| from sticking to the adjacent surface of heel piece [2 due to leakage magnetic fiux therebetween. Armature 13 further carries an arm 23 and a pushing member 45 (Figs. 2 and 4) for co-operating with the lever mechanism mounted on the righthand side of the relay (the lever mechanism is mostly concealed by cover 24 in Fig. 2 but may be observed in detail in Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive), the lever mechanism co-operating with contact switch unit 25 of the relay in the manner to be described in later paragraphs.

Switch units 22 and 25 comprise a plurality of individual flexible metallic switch, or contact, springs such as 25, 2?, 28, 29 arranged in two pile-ups, each pile-up being secured to heel piece l2 by a pair of screws 38. More specifically, the base ends of the contact springs in each pile-up are spaced apart and insulated from each other by a plurality of interposed insulating pieces 3|, the assembly of contact springs and insulating pieces being retained in clamped position between a clamping plate 32 and heel piece [2 by the two screws St. The contact springs need not be of the particular type or form shown in the drawings but may be of any well-known form, according to circumstance or preference. Also, the number of contact springs and the particular contact combination of each switch unit may be varied to suit any requirement.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, a substantially L-shaped bracket 33 for mounting the previously mentioned lever mechanism is rigidly attached to heel piece 52 by means of screws 3:3 or other suitable means. Tapped bosses 35 on bracket 33 and screws 36 (Fig. 2) provide means for attaching cover 2 3 to retain the various levers of thelever mechanism in their respective positions. Projections 3?, 38, 39 and 4% of bracket 33 provide bearing means for the various levers of the lever mechanism.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 9, 10, l1 and 12, the lever'mechanism for controlling switch unit 25 comprises four interlinked levers ll, 42, ":3 and i4 controlled by armature it through the medium of arm 23 and adjustable pushing member 55. Preferably, levers til, 42, 53 and i i are formed of non-magnetic material in order to cause no irregular operation.

More specifically, lever ll is substantially L- shaped, the left-hand half of its horizontal member being bearinged by bracket 33 and projections 37 and 38 extending therefrom, the right-hand end of the horizontal member being guided by U-sliaped projection 39. Helical spring as seated against projection 3:) and acting on shoulders ll and or" the horizontal member keeps the vertical member of lever A l firmly against pushing member 45 of armature arm 23 at all times.

Further, lever G2 is of the bell-crank type, bearinged on bracket 33 by pivot pin 59. One end of a flat spring 51 is fixedly attached to the upper arm of lever 32 in any suitable manner, the other end of spring 5i resting against lower projection 52 of lever 3d. The normal tension of spring 5| causes the lower arm of lever 22 to bear down on stop stud 53 of lever (it (Fig. 9) thereby to retain lever is in its lower position. Also, the lower arm of lever 22 has a shoulder 5 normally restin against projection 55 of lever ti. and the upper arm of lever 5,2 is notched at 53.

Further, lever G3 is also of the bell-crank type, bearinged on lever i l by pivot pin 5?. Helical spring 52; attached to the right-hand arm of lever 33 at 59 and to stud 56 of lever td-causes the tip of the right-hand arm of lever l3 to rest on the upper arm of lever 32 just clear of notch 53 (Fig. 9) and the tip of the lower arm of-lever 43 to clear projection 33 of bracket 33.

Further, lever Al is of the sliding typeand is located in the central portion bracket 33, the upper end of the lever passing over cutout Bl of bracket 33, and the central portion of the lever being bearinged by inwardly turned projections 33. The upper end or lever as has aninturned projection 82 (Fig. l) which overlies the top surface of heel piece l2 for co-operating with switch unit 2%. .The lower end of lever M has an outturned' projection 52 against which projection the lower end of flat spring 5i rests (Fig, 9)

Considering now the operation of the relay, Figs. 2, 3 and 9 show all movable elements of the relay in their respective normal, or non-operated, positions. When winding H is energized for the first time as, for example, by the closing of contact 9 (Fig. 13), armature I3 is attracted towards core I0, and projection 2| of armature arm I9 (Fig. 3) correspondingly raises bushing 63 thereby operating switch unit 22 in a conventional manner. Pushing member 45 of armature arm 23, however, does not correspondingly operate switch unit 25 because the leve mechanism mounted on the right-hand side of the relay is interposed between pushing member 45 and bushing 64 of switch unit 25 to control the operation of switch unit 25. As armature I3 moves from its normal position to the operated position of Fig. 10, pushing member 45 of armature arm 23 moves lever 4| to the right, overcoming the pressure of helical spring 46. Projection 65 of lever 4|, consequently, over-rides projection 52 of lever 44 (Fig. thereby locking lever 44 in its lowest position, and switch unit 25, therefore, cannot be operated at this time.

As lever 4| moves to the right, projection 55 of lever 4| presses against shoulder 54 or lever 42, thus causing the upper arm of lever 42 to move to the right until the tip of the right-hand arm of lever 43 slips into notch 56 of lever 42 (Fig. 10), helical Spring 58 supplying the power for latching the right-hand tip of lever 43 into notch 56. The movement of the upper arm of lever 42 to the right increases the tension in flat spring 5| but projection 65 of lever 4| continues to retain lever 44 in its lowest position. Lever 44, therefore, cannot cause the operation of switch unit 25 at this time. Switch unit 25, consequently, is not operated upon the first energization of winding l I.

When winding II is de-energized for the first time, as, for example, by the opening of contact 9 (Fig. 13) armature I3 is released and returns to its normal position shown in Fig. 11, the spring pressure of switch unit 22 exerted against projection 2| of armature arm l9, and the pressure of helical spring 46 against projections 4! and 48 of lever 4| being the means for such restoration. Switch unit 22 correspondingly returns to its normal position shown in Fig. 3, and lever 4| to its normal position shown in Fig. 11. Lever 42, however, remains latched by lever 43. As lever 4| restores to the left, projection 65 of lever 4| is withdrawn from projection 52 of lever 44, and the stored up energy in fiat spring 5| causes lever 44 to quickly move to its top position since the lower arm of lever 42 is maintained away from stop stud 53 of lever 44 by the latching of lever 42 (Figs. 10 and 11). Projection 62 of lever 44 accordingly raises bushing 64 thereby operating switch unit 25 to the position shown in Fig. 11. The upward movement of lever 44 also raises lever 43, causing the tip end of the upper arm of lever 43 to pivot in notch 56 of lever 42, helical spring 58 serving to maintain the right-hand tip end of lever 43 in notch 56 of lever 42 (Fig. 11). The raising and pivoting of lever 43 causes the lower arm of lever 43 to come into contact with projection 6'1 of lever 4|. In the manner described in this paragraph, switch unit 25 is operated responsive to winding ll being de-energized after the first energization, and switch unit 25 remains in the operated position for the time being.

Assuming now that winding H is energized a second time, then armature I3 is again attracted towards core l0, and projection 2| of armature arm I!) (Fig. 3) correspondingly raises bushing 63 thereby again operating switch unit 22. As armature l3 moves from its normal position in Fig. 11 to the operated position of Fig. 12, pushing member 45 of armature arm 23 again moves lever 4| to the right. In this instance, however,

projection 65 of lever 4| moves sufiiciently underneath projection 52 of lever 44 (Fig. 12) to lock lever 44 in its uppermost position, and switch unit 25, therefore, is locked in the operated position. Projection 61 of lever 4| presses against the lower arm of lever 43 thereby urging the tip of the upper arm of lever 43 out of notch 56, and lever 43, consequently, assumes the position shown in Fig. 12. Projection 55 of lever 4| pressing against shoulder 54 of lever 42, and stud 53 locked against the tip of the left-hand arm of lever 42, co-operate to retain lever 42 in the position shown in Fig. 12.

When winding H is de-energized for the second time, armature I3 is released and returns to its normal position in the manner previously explained for the first de-energization of winding l Switch unit 22 correspondingly returns to its normal position shown in Fig. 3, and lever 4| to its normal position shown in Fig. 9. As lever 4| restores to the left, projections 65, 55 and 61 of lever 4| also move to the left. Projection 65 clears projection 52 of lever 44 thereby unlocking lever 44: shoulder 54 of lever 42 follows projection 55 of lever 4|, and the tip end of the lefthand arm of lever 42 correspondingly bears down on step stud 53 of lever 44; and the spring pressure of switch unit exerted against projection 62 of lever 44 assists lever 42 to quickly restore lever 44 to its lowest position, and switch unit 25 restores to its normal position shown in Fig. 9. The movement of the right-hand arm of lever 42 to the left also causes its tip end to pass underneath the tip end of the upper arm of lever 43 (Fig. 9) while projection 61 of lever 4| still maintains lever 43 in the position shown in Fig. 12, and these two tip ends accordingly assume the relationship shown in Fig. 9. One complete opera- I tion of the relay has now been accomplished.

Pushing member 45 is tapped into armature arm 23 and fitted with a slotted head and lock nut 65 in order that the movements of lever 4| can be suitably regulated to accomplish the described sequential operations of levers 42, 43 and 44.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings it is readily apparent that a new, novel and useful relay structure has been devised. Fteoapitulating, one switch unit 22 of the relay is operated each time the relay is energized and is always restored each time the relay is deenergizeol; and the other switch unit 25 of the relay is operated only upon the first de-energization of the relay, remaining operated until and through the second energization of the relay, and is r stored only upon the second deenergization of the relay. It is obvious that the described complete operation of the relay can be repeated as often as desired, either from time to time or continuously for any required number of times,

It should be understood that whileone en bodiment of the invention is disclosed and described in this specification the invention is not limited to the particular form or application shown, but is entitled to the equivalents thereof within the scope or" the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a relay, an electromagnet, an armature, a switch, means for energizing and de-energizing said magnet, means for causing different movements of said switch, a spring, said armature operated responsive to an energization of said magnet, locking means controlled by said oper ation of said armature for locking said switch movement means to prevent a movement of. said switch --'at"- this time, "means controlled: by: said operation of saidarmaturefor conditioning said spring preparatory to causing amovement of said switch movementtmeans, said operated -armature fully restored responsive to a deenergization of 'saidmagnet following said one energization of said magnet, said locking means controlled. by said restoration" of said-armature for unlocking said switch 1 movement 1 means, said conditioned spring responsive to-said unlocking of said switch movement 'means formoving said unlocked switch movementmeans to cause one movement of said switch, said restored armature re -operated responsive to a re-energization .of said magnet, said locking means controlled by said reeoperation :of said: armature "for" locking said-:moved switch: movementumeans i tdmaintain saidimoved switch in its movedposition, means controlled by said 're-operation' of said armature for differently conditioning said spring pr.epara torytoxmtusing .a..difterent movement of said lockedlmovedlswitch movement means, said reoperated lei-mature restored responsive to a secondz-da-energization. of 'said'magnet, said. locking means controlled by saidilast restoration of said armature for. unlocking said moved switch movement means, and means including said: difierently. conditioned spring responsive -to. saidunlocking. oiisaid'movedswitch movement means.

for adifierentlynmoving said unlocked moved switch .-;mov.ement.:. means. to. causea different movement of said" moved switch.

Q 2. 111::3111 electromagnetic relay, an armature,

meansfor operating and restoring said armature,

av movable bar, a leverhaving .twoJarms lockable about a fixed pivot, a tensioned power spring having two ends, one end of said spring fixed to one arm of'said lever, the other end of said spring engaging said' bar under tension preparatory to causing a movement of said bar in one direction, said other arm of said lever oppositely engaging :said bar under tension of said spring for preventing a movement of said bar in said one direction, locking means controlled by an operation of said armature for engaging said bar to lock said bar against a movement in said one direction, means controlled by said operation. of said armature for rocking said lever to disengage said other arm of said lever from said bar and to move said one arm of said lever thereby to increase the'tension in said other end of said spring, means responsive to said rocking of said lever for locking said rocked lever to maintain said increased tension in said other end of said spring, said locking means controlled by a restoration of said armature following said operation of said armature for moving said locking means to its unlocked position to free said bar for movement in said one direction, said additionally tensioned other end of said spring responsive to said last mentioned movement of said locking means for causing a movement of said unlocked bar in said one direction.

3. In an electromagnetic relay as claimed in claim 2 wherein said locking mean is further controlled by a reoperation of said armature for differently engaging said moved bar to prevent a movement of said moved bar in a different direction, together with means controlled by said re-operation of said armature for unlocking said locked rocked lever, means including said one end of said spring responsive tosaid unlocking of said rocked lever for oppositely rocking said unlocked lever to cause said other arm of said opp ositely rocked lever to are eengage said :locked moved bar preparatory to causing amovementnf saidlocked -moved bar in said" difierentidirection, said differently engaged locking means controlled-bye second restoration of saidarmature for freeing said moved bar for movement in said difierentidirection, and means including said re-v engaged other arm oi said difierently: rocked lever responsive to said last-mentioned co'ntroh ment xofi saidr. difierently...engaged locking. means.

for causing a. movement .of vsaidi unlocked moved her in saididiiferent direction.

.4.-.The electromagnetic relayclaimed in claim 3' together with an electrical: contact, means controlled by saidsmoving ofsaidbar inisaidione direction causingrsaidcontact. t ioperate said last mentioned means controlled bysa'id moving of said .bar in saidadifierent directionforcausing saidfoperatedcontactto.restore.

5. The-electromagnetic relay claimed in claim 2 together with an electrical contact, :andzmeans controlled by. saidmoving .of said loanin. said one direction for: causing said.contact-to;operate,

6..:In a' relay, an. electromagnet, "means for energizing. and tie-energizing said lmagnet, an armature; a contact; a. movable car; a etensioned spring. engaging said bar preparatoryto causing amovement. of said bar; aflrst locking-.means controlled by said spring .for locking. said; bar against :movementby said spring, said armature opera-ted": responsive to an. energization. of; .said magnet, a second locking means:moved: byasaid operation of said armature for -additionally:lock ing said bar ago nst :movement; by. said spring, means controlled by saidimovement'of. said seclccking meansior. actuatingsaid 'first'lccking means .to partiallyiruilock said bar for movement and .to: additionally tension said spring, means controlled by said actuation of nsaidlfirst'looking means ior'holding saidfirst locking rneansinits actuated: position to .maintain' said additional tensloning. of: said spring, said operated armature fully "restored responsive to a; deeenergizationiofasaid magnet, said secondloc'kingmeans controlled by-said restoration oi. saidarrnature for completely unlocking said partiallyunlocked bar, said additionaliy-tensioned spring :responsive to. said "complete unlocking of said bar for causing. a movement of said bar, and .means controlled by saidwmovement of.saidlbar for-operatingsaidcontact.

7.1.211" a. relay;.mea-ns. fonenergizing and deenergizing said-relay, an. armature; anelectrical contact, a movable element, afirst locking means, means for. causing'..said' first locking :;means :to locksaid one element against movement, a first energization of said relay causing-said armature to operate, a. second locking :means actuated responsive to said operation 0t said armature for additionally locking said" one: element, :means controlled by said actuation of-said second lookinglmeans-ior moving said first locking means to partially unlock said one element-,means-controlledby saidmovement ofsaid first-locking means for conditioning said' locked element preparatory to causing an operation of said contact, a first de-energization of said relay'causing said operated Larm-atureto restore fully, said actuatedsecond locking means controlled by said restoration of said armatmefor completely unlockingsaid conditioned element, means responsive to said complete unlocking of said conditioned element for: movingsaid-conditioned element, an eighth means controlled by saidmovement of saidone element for-operating said contact, a second energization of said relay causing said restored armature to re-operate, said second locking means re-actuated responsive to said reoperation of said armature for locking said one element in its moved position to retain said contact operated, means controlled by said reactuation of said second locking means for differently conditioning said locked moved element preparatory to causing a restoration of said operated contact, a second de-energization of said relay causing said re-operated armature to restore fully, said re-actuated second locking means controlled by said last restoration of said armature for unlocking said difierently conditioned element, means including said first locking means responsive to said unlocking of said differently conditioned element for restoring said differently conditioned element to its normal position, said eighth means responsive to said restoration of 10 said one element for causing said operated contact to restore.

RUDOLPH FRANK STEHLIK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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